NOUN COMPOUNDS in TURKISH

YKSEL GKNEL 01.01.2013

NOUN COMPOUNDS in TORKISH

NOUN COMPOUNDS in TURKISH

sim Tamlamalar
All noun compounds function as nominal phrases (NP) in sentences. These compounds play a considerable part in transforming Turkish simple sentences to be used in Phrase Structures. Therefore, they have to be considered before going on with further explanations. Although these compounds are called noun compounds, they naturally cover pronouns and infinitives, as well. A noun compound is composed of two parts: the possessor (tamlayan), and the possessed (tamlanan) parts. When a pronoun is used in the possessor part of a compound, its possessor personal allomorphs change according to the vowel and consonant harmony rules of the Turkish language as follows:

DEFINITE NOUN COMPOUNDS

Belirtili sim Tamlamalar Possessor Personal Suffixes Attached to the Possessor Parts of the Compounds: ben-im (be*nim) (my), sen-in (se*nin) (your), o-/n/un (o*nun) (his, her, its), biz-im (bi*zim) (our), siz-in (si*zin) (your), onlar-n (on*la*rn) (their), okulun (o*ku*lun), sandalye-/n/in (san*dal*ye*nin), grme-/n/in(g*r*me*nin) Note: Although all the words that are used in the possessor parts of the noun compounds function as determiners, they are called "possessive adjectives" in traditional grammars. As it is seen in the examples above, the possessor personal morphemes following the personal pronouns are ben-im, sen-in, o-/n/un, biz-im, siz-in, onlar-n. If a noun is used in place of the third person singular pronoun, the allomorphs of the possessed nouns change according to the vowel rules. When these pronouns, common nouns, or proper nouns end with consonants, they take these suffixes, but if they end with vowels, they need the /n/ glides to attach to the same possessor personal morphemes to produce possessor determiners. ben-im (be*nim), sen-in (se*nin), o-/n/un (o*nun), biz-im (bi*zim), siz-in (si*zin), on.lar-n (on*la*rn), okul-un (o*ku*lun), rt-/n/n (r*t*nn), al-ma-/n/n (a*l*ma*nn), yksel-me-/n/in (yk*sel*me*nin) All pronouns, common nouns, proper nouns, and infinitives can be used in the possessor parts of the noun compounds:

NOUN COMPOUNDS in TORKISH

ben-im okul-um; okul-un kap-/s/; Ali-/n/in anta-/s/; al-ma-/n/n sonu-u
pronoun common N proper N infinitive

All common nouns, infinitives, and transformed nominalized sentences can be used in the possessed parts of the noun compounds, such as:
ben-im okul-um
common N

Ahmet-in gel-me-/s/i Aye-/n/in gl- ben-im git-tik-im

infinitive infinitive infinitive

The transformed nominalized sentences are used as subjects and objects, but the last noun + infinitive compound (ben-im git-tik-im) can be used both as subjects, objects, and as determiners in sentences: Onun al-tk--/n/ biliyorum.
nominalized phrs (obj) V

onun al-tk-
nominalized phrs (det)

irket
noun

I know that he works.

nominalized sent (obj)

the company where he works

D noun nominalized sent (det)

Posessor Personal Suffixes Attached to the Possessed Parts of the Compounds (ben): [im, m, m, um, em, am]: (ben-im sepet-im), (ben-im baba-am) When the nouns end with consonants, these consonants detach from their syllables, and attach to the first vowels of the allomorphs following them, but when they end with vowels, they combine with the first vowels of the identical vowels of the following allomorphs, which are showed in bold face. (ben): [im, m, m, um, em, am]: ben-im sepet-im (be*nim / se*pe*tim); ben-im okul-um (be*nim / o*ku*lum); ben-im araba-am (be*nim / a*ra*bam); ben-im baba-am (ba*bam); ben-im gl-me-em (be*nim /gl*mem); ben-im bala-ma-am (ba*la*mam); ben-im turu-um (be*nim / tur*um); ben-im ene-em (be*nim / e*nem) (sen): [in, n, n, un, en, an]: sen-in defter-in (se*nin / def*te*rin), sen-in mesele-en (me*se*len), sen-in kutu-un (ku*tun), sen-in tarla-an (tar*lan), sen-in ev-in (e*vin), sen-in gzler-in (se*nin / gz*le*rin), sen-in yz-me-en (se*nin / yz*men) (o), or a proper noun, or a common noun): [i, , , u]: In the possessor part of a noun compound, either o, or a "noun", or an "infinitive" can be used. The possessor personal allomorphs attached to both the possessor and the possessed parts of the compouns are as follows:

NOUN COMPOUNDS in TORKISH possessor possessed example Jack-in okul-u Jack-in araba-/s/ perde-/n/in kuma- Ay e-/n/in anne-/s/i

C-[in, n, n, un]; C-[i, , , u] . ..C-[in, n, n, un] V-[/s/i, /s/, /s/, /s/u] V-[/n/in, /n/n, /n/n, /n/un] C-[i, , , u] V-[/n/in, /n/n, /n/n, /n/un] V-[/s/i, /s/, /s/, /s/u]

In the table above, C represents a noun ending with a consonant; V represents a noun or a pronoun ending with a vowel. In the examples below, the identical vowels that combine are written in bold face, and the consonants that detach from their syllables and attach to the first vowels of the following morphemes are single underlined. o-/n/un kalem-i (o*nun / ka*le*mi); ky-n deli-/s/i (k*yn / de*li*si); ev-in kedi-/s/i (e*vin / ke*di*si); cmle-/n/in son-u (cm*le*nin / so*nu); okul-un ark-/s/ (o*ku*lun / ar*k*s); deli-/n/in gl-me-/s/i (de*li*nin / gl*me*si); al-ma-/n/n sonu-u (a*l*ma*nn / so*nu*cu); ala-ma-/n/n neden-i (a*la*ma*nn / ne*de*ni); kz-n gzel.lik-i (k*zn / g*zel*li*i) (biz): [im.iz, m.z, m.z, um.uz, em.iz, am.z]: biz-im okul-um.uz (bi*zim / o*ku*lu*muz); biz-im tencere-em.iz (bi*zim / ten*ce*re*miz); biz-im baba-am.z (bi*zim / ba*ba*mz); biz-im ky-m.z (bi*zim / k*y*mz); biz-im sorun-um.uz (so*ru*nu*muz), biz-im baheem.iz (bah*e*miz), biz-im anla-ma-am.z (an*la*ma*mz). (siz): [in.iz, n.z, n.z, un.uz, en.iz, an.z]: siz-in davul-un.uz (si*zin / da*vu*lu*nuz); siz-in araba-an.z (a*ra*ba*nz); siz-in kz-n.z (k*z*nz); siz-in kafa-an.z (ka*fa*nz), siz-in bahe-en.iz (si*zin / bah*e*niz); siz-in torba-an.z (tor*ba*nz); siz-in konu-ma-an.z (ko*nu*ma*nz). (onlar): [i, , , u] or ([ler-i, lar-]): o/n/-lar-n okul-u (on*la*rn / o*ku*lu); o/n/-lar-n iek-ler-i (on*la*rn / i*ek*le*ri); onlar-n konu-ma-lar- (on*la*rn / ko*nu*ma*la*r); o/n/-lar-n anne-/s/i (on*la*rn / an*ne*si); o/n/-lar-n kedi-/s/i (on*la*rn / ke*di*si) (ben-im) (ben-im) (ben-im) (ben-im) (ben-im) (ben-im) defter-im (be*nim / def*te*rim) (my notebook) ba-m (ba*m) (my head) gz-m (g*zm) (my eye) sakal-m (sa*ka*lm) (my beard) sorun-um (so*ru*num) (my problem) ku-um (ku*um) (my bird)

NOUN COMPOUNDS in TORKISH Jackin okul-u (ce*kin / o*ku*lu) (Jacks school) Since a personal possessor morpheme in the possessed part of a compound is enough to help someone understand the possessor pronoun in the possessor part of a compound, the parts in the brackets above may be ignored unless they are intentionally stressed. One can say (ki*tabm) in place of (be*nim / ki*ta*bm). If only the possessed part of the compound is used, the stress is on bm. If both parts are used, the stress is on nim. If a possessed noun in a compound ends with a vowel, and the first vowel of a personal possessor morpheme starts with the same vowel, these two identical vowels combine, and are verbalized as a single vowel: ben-im araba-am (be*ni*ma*ra*bam); (a*ra*bam) (my car) liaison) ben-im mesele-em (be*nim / me*se*lem); (me*se*lem) (my problem) ben-im tarla-am (be*nim / tar*lam); (tar*lam) (my field) ben-im kafa-am (be*nim / ka*fam); (ka*fam) (my head) ben-im sandalye-em (be*nim / san*dal*yem); (san*dal*yem) (my chair) ben-im pipo-um (be*nim / pi*pom); (pi*pom) (my pipe) (The u drops.) ben-im kar-m (be*nim / ka*rm); (ka*rm) (my wife) ben-im deri-im (be*nim / de*rim); (de*rim) (my skin) ben-im su-/y/um (be*nim / su*yum); (su*yum) (my water) ben-im anne-em (be*ni*man*nem); (an*nem) (my mother) (liaison) . If the possessed noun of a compound ends with the unvoiced /p/, /k/, //, or /t/ consonants, they change into their counterpart voiced consonants / b/, //, /c/, or /d/ respectively: Bebek-im (be*be*im) (my baby) (The /k/ changes into //) Kpek-im (k*pe*im) (my dog) (The /k/ changes into //) orap-m (o*ra*bm) (my sock) (The /p/ changes into /b/) Ara-m (a*ra*cm) (my vehicle) (The // changes into /c/) Dert-im (der*dim) (my trouble) (The /t/ changes into /d/) All the monosyllabic roots, and most words ending with /t/ do not change their last consonants when they are suffixed: at-m (a*tm) (my horse); st-m (s*tm) (my milk); krk-m (kr*km) (my fur); ip-im (i*pim) (my rope); sa-m (sa*m) (my hair); hap-m (ha*pm) (my pill); sepet-im (se*pe*tim) (my basket); saat-im (sa*a*tim) (my watch); demet-im (de*me*tim) (my bunch); krk-n (kr*kn) (your fur); at-lar-m.z (at*la*r*mz) (our horses).

NOUN COMPOUNDS in TORKISH When senin is used in the possessor position, the possessed nouns are suffixed with [in, n, n, un, en, an] possessor personal allomorphs: defter-in (def*te*rin) (your notebook) ba-n (ba*n) (your head) gz-ler-in (gz*le*rin) (your eyes) tuz-un (tu*zun) (your salt) baba-an (ba*ban) (your father) sandalye-en (san*dal*yen) (your chair) If possessed nouns end with vowels or /p, t, k, / unvoiced consonants, they undergo the same changes as they do in the examples above: kpek-in (k*pe*in), orap-n (o*ra*bn), gmlek-in (gm*le*in), bak-n (b*a*n); but st-n (s*tn), sepet-in (se*pe*tin), araba-an (a*ra*ban) The third person possessed nouns are suffixed with [i, , , u] allomorphs: ev-i (e*vi), okul-u (o*ku*lu), kalem-i (ka*le*mi), ceket-i (ce*ke*ti), dn- (d**n), gz- (g*z), ba- (ba*), ka- (ka*), oul-u (o*lu) When a third person possessed noun ends with a vowel, it takes an /s/ glide when it is attached to a possessor personal suffix: araba-/s/ (a*ra*ba*s) (his car); bahe-/s/i (bah*e*si) (his garden); tarla-/s/ (tar*la*/) (his farm); hal-/s/ (ha*l*s) (his carpet); leke-/s/i (le*ke*si) (its stain); fke-/s/i (f*ke*si) (his rage); kap-/s/ (ka*p*s) (his door); gaga-/s/ (ga*ga*s) (its beak); anne-/s/i (an*ne*si); baba-/s/ (ba*ba*s); eme-/s/i (e*me*si) (its tap); yama-/s/ (ya*ma*s) (its patch); gel-me-/s/i (gel*me*si) (his coming) If the possessor adjectives are used together with the possessed parts of the compounds, the possessor adjectives become dominant and the stress goes onto the possessor adjectives: Onun arabas (o*nun / a*ra*ba*s); onun bahesi (o*nun / bah*e*si) The /p, t, k, / unvoiced consonants change into their voiced counterparts /b, d, , c / respectively as in the examples below. This consonant change does not change the meaning of words. o-/n/un corap- (o*nun / o*ra*b) (his sock); o-/n/un dolap- (o*nun / do*la*b) (his cupboard); o-/n/un ama- (o*nun / a*ma*c) (his goal); onun sokak- (o*nun / so*ka*) (his street); onun kapak-, (o*nun / ka*

NOUN COMPOUNDS in TORKISH pa*) (its lid); onun bacak- (o*nun / ba*ca*) (his leg); onun ip-i (o*nun / i*pi); onun st- (o*nun / s*t) A noun (or an infinitive) in a possessor position is used just like a third person possessor pronoun. When a noun in the possessor position ends with a vowel, it needs an /n/ glide to attached to [in, n, n, un] allomorphs. As the third person singular pronoun is o, which has only one vowel, it also needs the same /n/ glide to be attached to [un] allomorph. Interrogative possessors can also be used in the possessor parts of the compounds: o-/n/un kap-/s/ (o*nun / ka*p*s) (its door); oda-/n/n kap-/s/ (o*da*nn / ka*p*s) (the door of the room); o-/n/un yakt- (o*nun / ya*k*t) (its fuel); araba-/n/n yakt- (a*ra*ba*nn / ya*k*t) (the fuel of the car); okul-un otobs- (o*ku*lun / o*to*b*s) (the bus of the school); bahe-/n/in kap-/s/ (bah*e*nin / ka*p*s) (the gate of the garden); Kim-in tarla-/s/? (ki*min / tar*la*s) ifti-/n/in tarla-/s/ (ift*i*nin / tar*la*s) (the farm of the farmer); Nere-/n/in hal-/s/? (nere*nin / ha*l*s); oda-/n/n hal-/s/ (o*da*nn / ha*l*s) (the carpet of the room); Kim-in kar-/s/? (ki*min / ka*r*s); Jackin kar-/s/. (ja*kin / ka*r*s) (Jacks wife); yr-me-/n/in yarar- (y*r*me*nin / ya*ra:*r) (the benefit of walking); Ne-/y/in renk-i? (ne*yin / ren*gi) arap-n renk-i (a*ra*bn / ren*gi) (the color of the wine); iek-in gzellik-i (i*e*in / g*zel*li*i) (the beauty of the flower) When the noun compounds ending with vowels are suffixed by the allomorphs of the [], [E], [DE], or [DEN] morphemes, they take the /n/ glides: Jack, Mary-/n/in kpek-i-/n/i sr-d. (jack ~/ me*ri*nin / k*pe*i*ni / *sr*d ) Jack bit Marys dog. Jack, Mary/n/in kpek-i-/n/e bir ta at-t. (jack~ / mary*nin / k*pe*i*ne / bir / ta / at*t ) Jack threw a stone at Marys dog. Kpek, Mary/n/in bahe-/s/i/n/-de. (k*pek~ / mary*nin / bah*e*sin*de ) The dog is in Marys garden. Ben, Mary/n/in okulu/n/-dan gel-i.yor-um. (ben / mary*nin / o*ku*lun*dan / ge*li*yo*rum ) Im coming from Marys school.

NOUN COMPOUNDS in TORKISH The inflectional plural allomorphs [ler, lar] are attached to noun roots or stems first, and then the other allomorphs follow: ocuk-lar-m (o*cuk*la*rm), okul-lar-m.z (o*kul*la*r*mz), iek-ler-i (i*ek*le*ri), araba-lar-n.z (a*ra*ba*la*r*nz), komu-lar-m.z (kom*u*la*r*mz), saat-ler-im (sa*at*le*rim), sepet-ler-in.iz (se*pet*le*ri*niz) The personal allomorphs below are attached to the plural allomorphs above: (ben-im) kitap-lar-m (ki*tap*la*rm) (my books); (sen-in) iek-ler-in (i*ek*le*rin) (your flowers); (biz-im) oyuncak-lar-m.z (o*yun*cak*la*r*mz) (our toys). As the possessor pronouns in the compounds are generally ignored, only the possessed parts of the compounds are used. When the possessor parts are used together with the possessed parts of a compound, the possessor parts are stressed. However, when only the possessed parts are used, the stress goes onto the possessed part: "ben-im kitaplar-m" (be*nim / ki*tap*la*rm); "kitaplar-m (ki*tap*la*rm) Kitap-lar-m (ki*tap*la*rm) (my books); kedi-ler-im.iz (ke*di*le*ri*miz) (our cats); kpek-ler-i (k*pek*le*ri) (his dogs); sepet-ler-im.iz (se*pet*le*ri*miz) (our baskets); dost-lar-m (dost*la*rm) (my friends); soru-lar-m (so*ru*la*rm) (my questions); sorun-lar-m.z (so*run*la*r*mz) (our problems); kafa-am (ka*fam) (my head); pencere-em (pen*ce*rem) (my window); kafaan (ka*fan) (your head); kafa-/s/ (ka*fa*/s/) (his head); okul-u (o*ku*lu) (his school); giysi-/s/i (giy*si*si) (her dress); araba-an.z (a*ra*ba*nz) (your car); kap-n.z (ka*p*nz) (your door); yz--n.z (y*z*nz) (your face). Contrary to the English intonation, in a Turkish adjective + noun compound, the stressed syllable is on the adjective, not on the noun. In Turkish: sar gl (sa*r / gl); in English: "yellow rose" (ye*low / rose).When the first, the second or the third person plural possessor pronouns are used in the possessor part of a noun compound such as bizim, sizin, and onlarn, both the singular and the plural possessed nouns can be used in the possessed part of a noun compound: bizim arabamz, or bizim arabalarmz; sizin kediniz, or sizin kedileriniz; onlarn odas, or onlarn odalar; bizim evimiz, or bizim evlerimiz.

NOUN COMPOUNDS in TORKISH

INDEFINITE NOUN COMPOUNDS

Belirtisiz sim Tamlamalar The possessor + possessed compounds described above are all definite. When odann kaps is said, it means the door of the room. However, when we say kap zil-i instead of kap-/n/n zil-i, we mean door bell, where door is indefinite. The indefinite Turkish noun compounds are structurally different from the English indefinite noun compounds. For instance, in the Turkish compounds, the allomorphs of [] are attached to the second parts of the compounds, such as okul anta-/s/, but in English, only two nouns are used as school bag. When the possessed parts end with consonants, they take the allomorphs of [], but when they end with vowels, they take the /s/ glides together with the allomorphs of []. The indefinite interrogative possessors can also be used in the possessor parts of these compounds: Here are some examples of the indefinite noun compounds: Ne anta-/s/? (ne / an*ta*s); Okul anta-/s/ (o*kul / an*ta*s) (school bag); Ne soru-lar-? (ne / so*ru*la*r); Snav soru-lar- (s*nav / so*ru*la*r) (examination questions); renci kavga-/s/ (*ren*ci / kav*ga*s) (student fight); otomobil yar- (o*to*mo*bil / ya*r*) (car race); insan hak-lar- (in*san / hak*la*r) (human rights); Ne reel-i? elma reel-i (el*ma / re*e*li) (apple jam); Ne kaza-s/? (ne / ka*za:*s); araba kaza-/s/ (a*ra*ba / ka*za:*s) (car accident); kalem kutu-su (ka*lem / ku*tu*su) (pencil box); k bahe-/s/i (k / bah*e*si) (winter garden); isizlik sorun-u (i*siz*lik / so*ru*nu) (unemployment problem); yaz elence-/s/i (yaz / e*len*ce*si) (summer entertainment); gne gzlk-ler-i (g*ne / gz*lk*le*ri) (sunglasses); patates salata-/s/ (pa*ta*tes / sa*la*ta*s) (potato salad); hava kirlilik-i (ha*va / kir*li*li*i) (air pollution); ba ar-/s/ (ba*a*r*s) (headache); it dala- (it / da*la*) (dog fight); mrekkep leke-si (m*rek*kep / le*ke*s/) (ink stain)

NOUN COMPOUNDS WITHOUT SUFFIXES

Taksz Tamlama There are some other noun compounds that are made up of two nouns: tahta kutu (tah*ta / ku*tu) (wooden box); altn bilezik (al*tn / bi*le*zik) (golden bracelet); porselen fincan (por*se*len / fin*can) (china cup); demir kap (de*mir / ka*p) (iron door); ta bina (ta / bi*na:) (stone building); plastik oyuncak (plas*tik / o*yun*cak) (plastic toy); bakr tel (ba*kr / tel) (copper wire); mermer heykel (mer*mer / hey*kel) (marble statue); kz arkada

NOUN COMPOUNDS in TORKISH (k*zar*ka*da) (girl friend); erkek arkada (er*ke*kar*ka*da) (boy friend); gm para (g*m / pa*ra) (silver coin); tahta kpr (tah*ta / kp*r) (wooden bridge); Beyaz Saray (be*yaz / sa*ray) (The White House). The pronouns used in the possessor position of the noun compounds are also used in place of mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs and Jacks as in the following: Bu kitap benim. Bu araba Jackin. u gmlek senin. u eyler onlarn. Bu yanllar bizim. This book is mine. This car is Jacks. That shirt is yours. Those things are theirs. These mistakes are ours.

u ayakkablar onun. Those shoes are hers.

This similarity could be seen in the following two sentences: Bu benim kitabm. This is my book. Bu kitap benim. This book is mine. Bu senin araban. This is your car. Bu araba senin. This car is yours. Sometimes the [K] morpheme, which does not follow the vowel harmony rules and consequently has no allomorphs, is attached to benim, senin, o-nun, Jackin possessor pronouns. This morpheme generally means this one among others: Bu anta benim-ki. (bu / an*ta / be*nim*ki ) This bag is mine (among others). u koltuk sizin-ki. (u / kol*tuk / si*zin*ki ) This seat is yours (among others). Bu masa Jackin-ki. This table is Jacks (among others). Bu araba Ouzun-ki. This car is Ouzs (among others). The first parts of the noun compounds are syntactically determiners. For instance, in the expressions, the car, this car, all cars, and my car; the, this, all, and my have determining functions. Therefore, one cannot put a, an,the, or some before these words, such as *the this car, *the all cars, *a my car.

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NOUN COMPOUNDS in TORKISH The possessor parts of the definite noun compounds are words like the and some; therefore, in English, people say the gate of the garden, but in Turkish, people say bahe-/n/in kap-/s/, where bahe-/n/in is a determin-er, so we can formulate bahce-/n/in kap-/s/ as D + N.

NOUN + INFINITIVE COMPOUNDS

sim + Mastar Tamlamalar The infinitives, as they are nouns, are also used in the possessor + possessed compounds. All noun compounds are of several kinds: pronoun + noun o/n/un araba-/s/ (his car) noun + noun oda-/n/n kap-/s/ (the door of the room) pronoun + infinitive o/n/un anla-ma-/s/ (his understanding), o/n/un okul-a ge gel-me-/s/i (his coming to school late) infinitive + noun gecik-me-/n/in ceza-/s/ (the punishment of being late) infinitive+infinitivede-me-/n/in gecik-me-/s/i (the delay of the payment) Some examples are as follows: ben-im git-me-em (my going); o-/n/un bak- (her looking); siz-in git-tik-in.iz (git*ti*i*niz) (that you went); biz-im bulu-ma-am.z (our meeting); biz-im al-ma-am.z-n sonu-u (bi*zim / a*l*ma*m*zn / so*nu*cu) (the result of our working); isizlik-in art-ma-/s/ (i*siz*li*in / art*ma*s) (the increase of the unemployment); okul-a ge kal-ma-/n/n sonu-u (o*ku*la / ge / kal*ma*nn / so*nu*cu) (the result of coming to school late). In the compounds above, the identical vowels combine, and the single underlined consonants detach from their syllables and attach to the first vowels of the following morphemes while the oral system of the Turkish language is reorganizing the morphemes in harmony with the Turkish sound system. The parallelism between the above compounds and those of the following ones are obvious: ben-im tencere-em, onun ba-, siz-in bilet-in.iz, ben-im ev-im As it is seen, the infinitives are nouns that are produced from verb roots, stems and frames by adding [me, ma], [i, , , u], and [dik, dk, dk, duk, tik, tk, tk, tuk] allomorphs. These infinitives, except the [mek, mak]

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NOUN COMPOUNDS in TORKISH infinitives that are used in the possessor parts, are used in noun compounds in sentences as Nominal Phrases such as: ben-im gl-me-em, sen-in gl--n, o-/n/un ala-dk- (a*la*d*), biz-im bekle-me-em.iz, Ahmet-in al-ma-ma-/s/, onlar-n gel-me-me-/s/i, ocukun bul-un-ma-/s/, biz-im bul-u-ma-am.z, araba-/n/n al-n-ma-/s/ It is possible in Turkish to produce chain noun compounds by lengthening the compounds above as far as the word that ends the chain because all natural languages are infinitely productive within the framework of the NP + VP innate logical sentence pattern: genler-in spor yap-ma-/s/ possessor + possessed yapma-/s/-/n/n nem-i possessor + possessed nem-i-/n/n anla-l-ma-/s/ possessor + possessed gerek-ir. VP Genler-in spor yapma-/s/-/n/n nem-i-/n/in anla-l-ma-/s/ gerek-ir.
NP VP

(gen*le*rin / spor / yap*ma*s*nn / *ne*mi*nin / an*la*l*ma*s / ge*re*kir) It is necessary to understand the importance of the youngsters playing sports.

PREPOSITIONS (ENG) and POSTPOSITIONS (TURK) (edatlar)

The English prepositions on, in, under, near, behind, in front of are all nouns in Turkish: st (on), alt (under), yakn (near), i (in), arka (behind, back), n (front) As all the words above can be attached to the allomorphs of the morphemes [], [E], [DE] and [DEN], they are nouns. Besides these morphemes, the allomorphs of [], which are also the allomorphs of the possessed morpheme [], can be attached to the above nouns to form the possessed parts of the noun compounds: Masa-/n/n st- (ma*sa*n*ns*t) (the upper side of the table) (liaison) Kutu-/n/un i-i (ku*tu*nu*ni*i) (the inside of the box) (liaison) Karyola-/n/n alt- (kar*yo*la*n*nal*t) (the underside of the bed) (liaison) Sandalye-/n/in arka-/s/ (san*dal*ye*ni*nar*ka*/s/) (the back of the chair) The two parts of the compounds above can also be separately said: (ma*sa*nn / s*t), (ku*tu*nun / i*i), (kar*yo*la*nn / al*t), (san*dal*ye*nin / ar*ka*s).

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NOUN COMPOUNDS in TORKISH When the above compounds are used as objects, they take the allomorphs of the defining [] morpheme linked by the /n/ glides: Masa-/n/n st--/n/ temizledi-im. (ma*sa*nn / s*t*n / te*miz*le*dim ) I cleaned the surface of the table. In the sentence above, the first // is the personal possessed allomorph; the second // is the defining morpheme, and the /n/ phonemes are the glides linking the successive /a/ //, and // // vowels. In such compounds, either of the stressable syllables of the possessor or the possessed parts of a compound can be stressed. The dominant word syllables are symbolized in bold face, and the secondarily stressed syllables are showed in italics. The weakly stressed syllables are printed in regular type. See how the meanings of the sentences change when the primarily stressed words change in the following sentences: (ma*sa*nn / s*t*n / te*miz*le*dim) I have cleaned the upper side of the table, not the upper side of any other furniture. (ma*sa*nn / s*t*n / te*miz*le*dim) I have cleaned the upper side of the table, not the underside or the legs of it. (ma*sa*nn / s*t*n / te*miz*le*dim ) I have cleaned the upper side of the table, so I have done my work.

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